Energy

The energy sector plays a decisive role in a nation's sustainable economic development, both with regard to availability of energy sources and environmental impact.

In 2014 there was a decrease of both energy consumption and of total gross electricity generation. In more detail, electricity consumption was 4,710.3 kWh per inhabitant (-3 percent compared to 2013) and registered the lowest values of the last 12 years. Total gross electricity generation was 46 GWh per 10,000 inhabitants, slightly decreasing compared to 2013.

In the context of the European strategy for the promotion of sustainable economic growth, the development of renewable sources represents a priority goal for all Member States. As Directive 2009/28/EC sets out, in 2020 Italy will have to cover 17 percent of final energy consumption by means of renewable sources.

With regard to the electricity sector alone, in 2014 the total gross domestic electricity generation from renewable sources increased, as well as its incidence on gross domestic electricity consumption. More specifically, in 2014, the share of gross domestic electricity consumption covered by renewable energy sources in Italy was 37.3 percent (with an increase of 3.6 percentage points on the previous year).